Compare the2024 Mercedes GLSVS 2024 Volkswagen Atlas

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Environmental Friendliness
Transmission
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Cargo Capacity
Towing
Servicing Ease
Ergonomics
Economic Advantages
Recommendations

Safety

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For enhanced safety, the front and second-row seat shoulder belts of the Mercedes GLS have pretensioners to tighten the seatbelts and eliminate dangerous slack in the event of a collision and force limiters to limit the pressure the belts will exert on the passengers. The Volkswagen Atlas doesn’t offer pretensioners for its second-row seat belts.

The GLS’ pre-crash front seatbelts will tighten automatically in the event the vehicle detects an impending crash, improving protection against injury significantly. The Atlas doesn’t offer pre-crash pretensioners.

The Mercedes GLS has a standard driver’s side knee airbag mounted low on the dashboard. The knee airbag helps prevent the driver from sliding under the seatbelts or the main frontal airbag; this keeps the driver better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. A knee airbag also helps keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The Atlas doesn’t offer knee airbags.

To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, All-Wheel Drive is standard on the GLS. But it costs extra on the Atlas.

Earlier warning of stopped traffic, traffic signals, dangerous road conditions, weather, or accidents, can keep driver's safer and prevent crashes. The GLS has Car-to-X Communication, a system that seamlessly communicates important warnings to the driver about impending danger, if they're available. The Atlas doesn’t offer a system that can receive automated systems from other vehicles.

The GLS’ driver alert monitor detects an inattentive driver then sounds a warning and suggests a break. According to the NHTSA, drivers who fall asleep cause about 100,000 crashes and 1500 deaths a year. The Atlas doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the GLS and the Atlas have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, height adjustable front shoulder belts, plastic fuel tanks, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras and rear cross-path warning.

The Mercedes GLS weighs 826 to 1877 pounds more than the Volkswagen Atlas. The NHTSA advises that heavier vehicles are much safer in collisions than their significantly lighter counterparts.

Warranty

The GLS’ corrosion warranty is unlimited miles longer than the Atlas’ (unlimited vs. 100,000 miles).

Reliability

J.D. Power and Associates rated the GLS second among large premium suvs in their 2023 Initial Quality Study. The Atlas isn’t in the top three in its category.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2023 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Mercedes vehicles are better in initial quality than Volkswagen vehicles. With 48 fewer problems per 100 vehicles, JD Power ranks Mercedes higher than Volkswagen.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Mercedes vehicles are more reliable than Volkswagen With 22 fewer problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, J.D. Power ranks Mercedes higher than Volkswagen.

Engine

The GLS 450’s standard 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder hybrid produces 106 more horsepower (375 vs. 269) and 96 lbs.-ft. more torque (369 vs. 273) than the Atlas’ 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder. The GLS 580’s standard 4.0 turbo V8 hybrid produces 241 more horsepower (510 vs. 269) and 265 lbs.-ft. more torque (538 vs. 273) than the Atlas’ 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder. The Maybach GLS 600’s standard 4.0 turbo V8 hybrid produces 281 more horsepower (550 vs. 269) and 265 lbs.-ft. more torque (538 vs. 273) than the Atlas’ 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder.

As tested in Motor Trend the GLS 450 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder hybrid is faster than the Volkswagen Atlas:

	GLS	Atlas
Zero to 60 MPH	5.8 sec	7.5 sec
Quarter Mile	14.3 sec	15.7 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	97 MPH	91.3 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the GLS 450 gets better fuel mileage than the Atlas Peak Edition 4Motion (19 city/24 hwy vs. 18 city/24 hwy).

Regenerative brakes improve the GLS’ fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. The Atlas doesn’t offer a regenerative braking system.

The GLS has 5.2 gallons more fuel capacity than the Atlas (23.8 vs. 18.6 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

Environmental Friendliness

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Mercedes GLS higher (5 to 7 out of 10) than the Volkswagen Atlas (3). This means the GLS produces up to 24.5 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the Atlas every 15,000 miles.

Transmission

A nine-speed automatic is standard on the Mercedes GLS, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only an eight-speed automatic is available for the Atlas.

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the GLS’ brake rotors are larger than those on the Atlas:

	GLS	Atlas
Front Rotors	14.8 inches	13.2 inches
Rear Rotors	13.6 inches	12.2 inches

The GLS stops much shorter than the Atlas:

	GLS	Atlas
70 to 0 MPH	154 feet	174 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	113 feet	139 feet	Motor Trend

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the GLS has larger standard tires than the Atlas (F:275/45R21 & R:315/40R21 vs. 245/60R18). The GLS’ optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Atlas (F:285/40R23 & R:325/35R23 vs. 265/45R21).

The GLS’ standard 275/45R21 front and 315/40R21 rear tires provide better handling because they have a lower 45 series front and 40 series rear profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Atlas SE/Peak Edition’s standard 60 series tires. The GLS’ optional 285/40R23 front and 325/35R23 rear tires have a lower 40 series front and 35 series rear profile than the Atlas SEL Premium R-Line’s 45 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the GLS has standard 21-inch wheels. Smaller 18-inch wheels are standard on the Atlas SE/Peak Edition. The GLS’ optional 23-inch wheels are larger than the 21-inch wheels on the Atlas SEL Premium R-Line.

Suspension and Handling

The GLS has standard front and rear gas-charged shocks for better control over choppy roads. The Atlas’ suspension doesn’t offer gas-charged shocks.

The front and rear suspension of the GLS uses air springs for a smoother, controlled ride than the Atlas, which uses coil springs. Air springs maintain proper ride height and ride more smoothly.

The GLS offers an available adjustable active suspension system, which counteracts cornering forces actively, limiting body roll and improving handling and stability. Volkswagen doesn’t offer an active suspension on the Atlas.

The GLS has a standard driver-adjustable suspension system. It allows the driver to choose between an extra-supple ride, reducing fatigue on long trips, or a sport setting, which allows maximum control for tricky roads or off-road. The Atlas’ suspension doesn’t offer adjustable shock absorbers.

The GLS has a standard automatic front and rear load leveling suspension to keep ride height level with a heavy load or when towing. The GLS’ height leveling suspension allows the driver to raise ride height for better off-road clearance and then lower it again for easier entering and exiting and better on-road handling. The Atlas doesn’t offer a load leveling suspension.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the GLS’ wheelbase is 6.1 inches longer than on the Atlas (123.4 inches vs. 117.3 inches).

The GLS’ front to rear weight distribution is more even (52% to 48%) than the Atlas’ (55% to 45%). This gives the GLS more stable handling and braking.

The GLS 450 handles at .92 G’s, while the Atlas 4Motion pulls only .84 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The GLS 450 executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.5 seconds quicker than the Atlas SEL 4Motion (26.4 seconds @ .7 average G’s vs. 27.9 seconds @ .61 average G’s).

For greater off-road capability the GLS has a 3.8 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the Atlas (10.1 vs. 6.3 inches), allowing the GLS to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The GLS Off-Road Package’s minimum ground clearance is 5 inches higher than on the Atlas (11.3 vs. 6.3 inches).

Cargo Capacity

Pressing a switch automatically lowers or raises the GLS’ second and third row seats, to make changing between cargo and passengers easier. The Atlas doesn’t offer automatic folding seats.

Towing

The GLS’ standard towing capacity is much higher than the Atlas’ (7716 vs. 2000 pounds).

Servicing Ease

The engine in the GLS is mounted longitudinally (North-South), instead of sideways, as in the Atlas. This makes it easier to service and maintain, because the accessory belts are in front.

Ergonomics

Unlike the driver-only memory system in the Atlas SEL, the GLS has standard driver and passenger memory, so that when drivers switch, the memory setting adjusts the driver’s seat, steering wheel position, suspension setting, power steering assist, outside mirror angle, climate settings and radio stations and the front passenger seat also adjusts to the new passenger’s preset preferences.

The GLS’ standard easy entry system raises the steering wheel and glides the driver’s seat back, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. The Atlas doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

Heated windshield washer fluid is optional on the GLS to defrost the washer nozzles and quickly clear ice and frost from the windshield without scraping. The Atlas doesn’t offer heated windshield washer fluid. Its standard heated washer nozzles will defrost the washer fluid but not the windshield.

To better shield the driver and front passenger’s vision, the GLS has standard dual-element sun visors that can block glare from two directions simultaneously. The Atlas doesn’t offer secondary sun visors.

The GLS’ standard rear and side view mirrors have an automatic dimming feature. These mirrors can be set to automatically darken quickly when headlights shine on them, keeping following vehicles from blinding or distracting the driver. The Atlas has an automatic rear view mirror, but its side mirrors don’t dim.

The GLS has standard heated front and optional heated second and third row seats, which keep the driver and passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Volkswagen doesn’t offer heated seats in the third row of the Atlas.

The GLS has standard front air conditioned seats and offers them optionally in the second row. This keeps the passengers comfortable and takes the sting out of hot seats in summer. The Atlas doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats for the second row.

The GLS offers an optional center folding armrest for the third row rear passengers. A center armrest helps make rear passengers more comfortable and can provide a barrier between children. The Atlas doesn’t offer a third row rear seat center armrest.

The GLS offers optional massaging front and second row seats, which keep the driver and middle row passengers. Massaging seats aren’t available in the Atlas.

The GLS’ Active Parking Assist can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. The Atlas SEL Premium R-Line’s automatic parking system requires operating the brakes and transmission to safely park.

Economic Advantages

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the GLS is less expensive to operate than the Atlas because it costs $18 less to do the manufacturer’s suggested maintenance for 50,000 miles. Typical repairs cost much less on the GLS than the Atlas, including $130 less for a muffler, $31 less for a starter and $1033 less for a timing belt/chain.

Recommendations

J.D. Power and Associates rated the GLS third among large premium suvs in owner reported satisfaction. This includes how well the vehicle performs and satisfies its owner’s expectations. The Atlas isn’t in the top three.